Protection device for street-cars.



E. E. F. CREIGHTON. PROTECTION DEVICE FOR STREET CARS.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 12. 1913@ 1,1- 19,576, I Patented De0.1-, 1914.

I I F'igIA WUUUUUUUDU U F J qi i Inventor Elmer" EFCreighton WitnesaesHis wt t Sim To all whom it ma concern: -1

x2 Jw J EMQEQ v states, a. r. casicnron. cs'yscisniincuanr, Jivsw roan",asthma .r-o densest A a ELECTRIC consauv, accareanszonor new roanrnozrnc'rrou environ son ssrsnnr oana.

3 ,3 5 specification Dr m -n PatentedDecQ 1, 19 1s}.

' ori inal. a pumflmsiearaae, v, 1912 Serial HG. mates; st nces use thisapplication filed June 12,. ms. v v a v. SeriaIIt'oiWBJh'l,

v a order that the cell may be operative. In Be it known that I, ELMERE.' F. CREIcH- 'order to maintain the insulating film on the TON, acitizen of the United States, residing electrodes, the cells shouldbeconnected at v at Schenectady, countyof Schenectady, intervals to theline or other suitable source 5 State of New York, have invented.certain of voltage, but'electrolytic cells installed on 'newand usefulImprovementsin Protection a street car are apt to be rendered-inopera-Devices for Street-Cars,-of which the foltlve-by vneglect andbyffailureto' charge I owing is a specification. them often enough tomaintainthe film in My invention relates to protective devices.operative-condition. For this reason" elec- 1o 1 for electrically drivenvehicles, and moretrolytic cells have not heretofore been 'usedarticularly to protective devices suitable to any considerable extent asprotective def; or use on street cars or similar. vehicles and vices formotors on streetcars. J 65, having a discharge path consisting in partThe object of my invention is to provide of electrolyticcelis or similardevices which means by which electrolytic protectivede- 15 must beconnected at intervals to a source v ces for-systems supplyingtranslating de-- .207 1912, now'Pate'nt No. 1,078,131, Nov. '11, ofthetranslating devices.--- To this jend,jI' 1913.

{of potential in order to keep them in opera vices, such as motors, areautom'aticallyv tive condition; maintained in good condition Without"any-'- This application is a division of my apmanipulatioln on the part'of'the operator plication Serial vNo. 702,223, filed June 7, 9 otherthan that incidental .to the operation 3 g V v 7 provide means by whichthe electrolytic cells i Satisfactory protection of the motors of areautomatically charged-as a-result'of the street cars against lightningdificult if normal manipulation and use'of the translightning arresters'of the ordinary spark lating devices, so that'the operator of the 25 gaptype are used,'as the normal operating devices necessarily and withoutattentionor' voltage is so low that great difliculty isexcare on hispart, charges the electrolytic perienced in making a spark gap arresterof cells often enough to keep them in proper the usual type which willbreak down condition. A suitable arrangement for'street' :quickly upon aslight rise 'in voltage above cars and similar devices, is some means 30normal and which will at thesame time be which will automaticallyconnect the elecrugged and durable enough to Withstand the trolyticcells to the line and charge them hard usage to which it is subjectedwhen whenever the car is started or stopped or 86 mounted upon a streetcar. In order that Whenever there is a sufficient variation in its thespark gap arrester may not be rendered speed. During storms especiallypro- 35 inoperative by dust, dirt, and splashing of tection may besecured at will by directly metal in the spark discharge, the gaps areconnecting the cells to the line andthereby usually made so large that avery considereliminating the spark gap Which is" nor- 90' ablerise involtage is necessary before the mally in series With them. In some cases4 gaps will break down and permit the lightthe desired object may beattained by some 40 ning to discharge to ground, and as a conform ofdevice which automaticallyv c oses sequence of the time required "tobreak down the circuit-ofthe electrolytic cells Whenever i such a gap,the motors are often injured the current supplied to the translatingde-. even though the spark gap arresters are in vices varies toconsiderablelextent, onwhena ood condition. Electrolytic cells caneasily ever thecontrol apparatus of the translating oe'proportioned todischarge at a voltage device is manipulated. When -an.;el e ctro-- vvery slightly abovethe normal operating responsive device is used forthispurpose', voltage'of a street car and when discharging I prefer toconnect it so that, it lacts as a will permit such a large flow ofcurrent that a choke coil to keep the lightning out ofthc the motors areWell protected. The electrotranslating devices. i

D" lytic cells consist essentially of aluminum My invention Will be bestunderstood-in.

electrodes immersed in a suitable electrolyte connection with theaccompanying ,dravv-' and covered with an insulating film which ingswhich show, merely for the purpose (Limust he maintained in goodcondition in illustration, some of the various forms, in

- and 4 are diagrams showing which my'invention may be embodied and inwhich---v Figure 1 is a street car provided with a protective deviceembodying my invention; Fig. 55 is a diagram showing the connections ofone form of my invention; and Figs. 3 connections by which theelectrolytic cells are automatically charged in response to the closingand opening of the circuit through the motors.

In the particular arrangement shown in the drawings, the protectivedevice is mounted on the street .car in a box as shown in Fig. '1, mayconveniently be below the floor of the car but which may be mounted inany convenient place on the car so long as the automatic chargingmechanism is free to operate. The connections of the protective devicewill best be understood by referring to Fig. 2, which showsdiagrammatically the relation and connections of the various parts ofthe device. The electrolytic cells,'consisting of suitable receptacles 2containing an electrolyte and aluminum electrodes 3, are connected inseries betweenthe trolley and ground. The distribution of currentbetween the cells is controlled by balancing resistances 4: in shunt tothe electrodes of the cells. The cells are connected to the trolleythrough a spark gap 5 of the vacuum type, consisting of a suitablevessel whichcontains electrodes 6 properly spaced and which is exhaustedto such an extent that a voltage slightly above the normal voltage ofthe trolley, will break down the gap between the electrodes 7 6 andestablish a conducting path to ground.

-A voltage sufficient to break down the spark gap is high enough tocause a free flow through the electrolytic cells and consequently thereis a discharge path to ground. as long as the voltage of the trolley isabove normal. As soon as the voltage becomes normal, the insulatingfilms on the electrodes of-the elctrolytic cells stop the flow ofcurrent.

It is not advisable to connect the elec- I trolytic cells directly tothe trolley at all times, as the wear and tear upon the cells is greatlyincreased, but it may be desirable in some cases to be able to connectthe cells directly to the trolley during the continuance of storms orsimilar disturbances an I, therefore, provide a switch 7 by means ofwhich, at will, the spark gap.5 may be short circuited and theelectrolytic cells connected directly to the trolley.

The insulating films on the electrodes of the electrolytic cells willgradually dissolve and the cells will become inoperative unless thecells are charged and the Llms reformed by connecting intervals to asource of potential, such as the trolley. EX-

erience has shown that manual charging of the cells cannot be dependedupon, as

1 which, I

closed. As the charging of 12, but

' forming the through oversight or neglect the charging of the cells isomitted so often that the cells are not kept in proper condition. Toovercome this diiliculty, 1 provide means by which the cells areautomatically connecte to the trolley every time the car is started orstopped so that the cells are kept charged and the films in goodcondition without any attention on the part of the man in charge of thecar. Various forms of automatic devices may be used to automaticallyeliminate the spark gap 5 and connect the cells directly to the line atintervals. In the preferred construction, as shown in" the drawings, thespark 'gap is shunted by a charging circuit containing a chargingresistance 8 for limiting the flow of current through the electrolyticcells while the films are being reformed, and a charging switch orcircuit controlling device which will automatically eliminate the sparkgap by closing the shunt charging circuit around the spark gap. Theautomatic charging switch may be closed automatically either by its owninertia in response to the starting or stopping of the variations incurrent flow through the motor, so that every time the motor is startedor stopped the charging circuit will be the cells is completed in a veryshort space of time, all that is necessary to keep the cells in goodcondition is that the charging circuit be momentarily closed atintervals during the opera- The particular form of charging switch,

shown in Fig. 2, for controlling ing circuit comprises a body of mercury9 contained in a vessel 10 which is provided at each end with electrodes11 and 12. 'The vessel is slightly inclined and the amount of mercury 9is so chosen that it can touch both electrodes 11 and 12 and form aconducting bridge between them. Normally the and is in contact with theelectrode out of contact with the electrode 11, so that the chargingcircuit is open. en the car suddenly varies its speed, as in stopping orstarting, the mercury 9 by its inertia moves into engagement with theelectrode 11 while still'touching the electrode 12, thereby closing thecharging circuit and films on the electrolytic cell s.

figure the chargthe position shown in the As soon as the speed of thecar becomes uni- I form or the ear stops, the mercury drops back intothe position shown in the figure and the charging circuit is opened.

Under some conditions it is desirableto charge the electrolytic cells,forming a discharge path, by an electro-responsive device which closesthe charging circuit whenever current is supplied to or is cut off fromthe apparatus which is to be protected. One form of device by which thisresult may be obtained is shown in Figs. 3 and 4., in which thecontactsl3, 1n the chargingclrcuit, are

an electro-responsive tom'atically'move the particular formofelectro-responsive device I :tact l4 whenever--current is supplied tothe d on or whenever it is cut ofi. The

shown in the drawings comprises an arma- In Fig. 4,

ment of my invention 4 may advantageously in dotted lines and the ch hencurrent is cut ofi from the h ,motor'the armature l5 and bridging con.-

position shown is lifted bya coil 16 which may be connected directly inseries with the trolley, as shown or connected to it through atransformer 17, as shown in Fig. 3. I hen no current is flowing, thearmature or core 15 is in the position shown in fulllines. hen

the circuit of the motor is lines so that the charging circuit is'ciosedfor an instant as the bridging contact 14. passes between the contacts13. the current is flowing through the motor, the armature or core is inthe position shown arging circuit is tactld drop in full lines, ingcircuit as t sition.

back into the momentarily closing the chargheyareturn to the full linepohe transformer 17 and the apparatus, such as latlng devices, which andstopped during the day. In such cases the arrangeshown in Figs. 3 and beused to insure that the protective device is always in operativecondition. 7

My invention may be embodied in many other forms than thatdisclosed andI, therefore, do not limit my invention cise arrangement describedexcept in so far as it is limited by the scope of the appended claims.

lVhat I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of theUnited States, is 1. he combination with a translating device and aprotective device for said translating device comprising an condenserhaving a spark gap in series therewith, ofmeans responsive to currentflow through said translating device for obtained by s long as coil isdeenergized and circuit said electrolytic.

eliminating said spark gap" and thereby maintaining said electrolyticcondenser in operative condition.

cell having a spark gap in series h therewith, of a shunt circuit aroundsaid spark means responsive stopped. 3. The combination with an electricmotor and its source of with, a shunt circuit around said spark g aninductance in the 4. e combination with a translating dev. g fi I seriesb dev1ce .between said said discharge path,

I coil is deenergized, and means controlled by said armature for chmnating said spark gap when said armature "1s intermediate said twopositions.

a coil connected in series with said translating device between saidtranslating momentarily during movement of core. 6. The combination witha translating de? vice and a controller forsaid device, of anelectrolytic protective devihe having a spark gap in series therewith,and

cooperating contacts to close said shunt device directly to the line tobe protected as said controller is actuated.

The combination with a translatingflevice and a controller-for saiddevice, of'an electrolytic protective device having a spark gap inseries therewith, and means res one sive to the movement of saidcontrollerlfor shunting said spark gap to connect said protective devicedirectly to the line to be protected as said controller is actuated.

8. The co. 'bination with a translating device and a controller for saiddevice of an electrolytic protective device having a spark ap in seriestherewith, a around said gap, and electromagnetic means responsive tothe movement 0 said conshunt circuit j troller for circuit as saidcontroller s operated.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand this 10th day of June1913.

ELMER E. F. CREIGHTON. Witnesses:

BENJAMIN B. HULL, HELEN Onronnp momentarily closing said shunt 10

